Anemia

Causes

Aplastic anemia results from injury to the blood stem cells. These areimmature cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all other blood cells types. The injury causes a decrease in the number of every type of blood cell. These cells are the red cells, white cells, and platelets.

Aplastic anemia canalso be caused by certain medical conditions such as pregnancy or lupus. Exposure tocertain toxins or medicines, including chemotherapy, can also lead to aplastic anemia.

Symptoms

Symptoms resultfrom thebone marrow not being able to make new blood cells. Symptoms may be severe from the start or gradually worsen over time.

Bone marrow biopsy

Treatment

Mild cases of aplastic anemia may require no treatment. Symptomsare treated as needed.

If blood counts become lower, patients receive extra blood and platelets through transfusions. Over time, transfusions may stop working, resulting in very lowblood cell counts. This is a life-threatening condition.

Bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplantmay berecommended for patients under age 40. This treatment works best when the donor is a fully-matchedbrother or sister. This is called a matched sibling donor.

Bone marrow transplant

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fat...

Older patients and those who do not have a matched sibling donor are givenmedicinesto suppress the immune system. These medicines may allow the bone marrow to once again make healthy blood cells. But the disease may return (relapse). A bone marrow transplant with an unrelated donor may be tried if these medicines do not help or if the disease comes back after getting better

Outlook (Prognosis)

Untreated, severe aplastic anemia leads to rapid death. Bone marrow transplant is very successful in young people. It is alsoused in older patients or whenthe disease comes back after medicines have been tried.

Possible Complications

Severe infections or bleeding

Complications of bone marrow transplant

Reactions to medicines

Hemochromatosis (buildup of too much iron in the body tissuesfrom many red cell transfusions)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if bleeding occurs for no reason, or if bleeding ishard to stop. Call if you notice frequent infections or unusual fatigue.

Bone marrow aspiration - illustration

A small amount of bone marrow is removed during a bone marrow aspiration. The procedure is uncomfortable, but can be tolerated by both children and adults. The marrow can be studied to determine the cause of anemia, the presence of leukemia or other malignancy, or the presence of some "storage diseases" in which abnormal metabolic products are stored in certain bone marrow cells.

Bone marrow aspiration

illustration

Antibodies - illustration

Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.

Antibodies

illustration

Bone marrow aspiration - illustration

A small amount of bone marrow is removed during a bone marrow aspiration. The procedure is uncomfortable, but can be tolerated by both children and adults. The marrow can be studied to determine the cause of anemia, the presence of leukemia or other malignancy, or the presence of some "storage diseases" in which abnormal metabolic products are stored in certain bone marrow cells.

Bone marrow aspiration

illustration

Antibodies - illustration

Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.